Kalanchoe plant named ‘Red Jaqueline’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named ‘Red Jaqueline’, characterized by its numerous large bright red flowers; upright and compact plant habit; dark green leaves; and excellent postproduction longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Red Jaqueline’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Hinnerup, Denmark. The objective of the breedingprogram was to create new freely-flowering Kalanchoe cultivars withcompact plant habit and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Kalanchoe originated from a cross made by the Inventor of theKalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Juliana, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 10,228, as the female, or seed, parent with the Kalanchoeblossfeldiana cultivar Jaqueline, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.9,424, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Red Jaqueline wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Hinnerup,Denmark.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe by terminal cuttings taken atHinnerup, Denmark, by the Inventor, has shown that the unique featuresof this new Kalanchoe are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Red Jaqueline has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Red Jaqueline’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Red Jaqueline’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Large bright red flowers.

2. Upright and compact plant habit.

3. Dark green leaves.

4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ primarily from plants of the parentcultivars in flower color, plant growth habit and overall plant size.Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ primarily from plants of the cultivarPurple Jaqueline, U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/778,210filed concurrently, in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Kalanchoe, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Kalanchoe. The photographs were taken under diffuse naturallight conditions on an overcast day with electronic flash atapproximately noon in Hinnerup, Denmark.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical potted plant of ‘Red Jaqueline’.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet comprises a topperspective view of a typical potted plant of ‘Red Jaqueline’ showingthe flowers and foliage.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view ofthe following: side perspective view (top) and top perspective view of atypical flowering cyme (bottom) and immature (top) and fully expandedleaves (bottom) of ‘Red Jaqueline’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Unpinched plants used in thephotographs and for the following observations and measurements weregrown in Hinnerup, Denmark, under commercial practice in a glass-coveredgreenhouse for about 12 weeks after the start of short day/long nightphotoperiodic treatment with average temperatures of 20° C.

Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar RedJaqueline.

Parentage:

Female, or seed, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Juliana,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,228.

Male, or pollen, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Jaqueline,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,424.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days.

Rooting habit.—Numerous, fine, fibrous, and well-branched.

Plant description:

Form.—Upright and compact plant habit with numerous compound cymes;freely flowering. Actual plant shape will depend on whether or notplants are pinched (apical terminals removed). Finished plant size isappropriate for one plant per 9 to 10-cm container or three plants per13-cm container.

Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching (removal of terminal apex)is not required but will enhance lateral branch development.

Plant height at flowering.—About 25 cm.

Plant diameter at flowering.—About 20 cm.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple, opposite, generally symmetrical.Size: Mature foliage is reduced after floral induction. Vegetativeplants: Length: About 8 cm. Width: About 5 cm. Reproductive plants:Length: About 7 cm. Width: About 4.5 cm. Shape: Oval. Apex: Obtuse.Margin: Crenate; undulate. Aspect: Concave. Texture: Leathery, glabrous,succulent, rugose. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: 137A. Youngfoliage, lower surface: 137C. Mature foliage, upper surface: 147A.Mature foliage, lower surface: 147B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Single flowers arranged in compound dichasialcymes that arise from leaf axils. Upright flowering stems. Freelyflowering. Flowers persistent.

Natural flowering season.—Late autumn/winter/early spring; flowerinitiation and development can be induced under short day/long nightconditions.

Time to flower.—In the summer with 20° C. growing temperatures, about 10weeks of short day/long night conditions are required to produceflowering plants. During the winter with supplemental lighting and 20°C. growing temperatures, about 12 weeks of short day/long nightconditions are required to produce flowering plants. Time to flower isprimarily dependent upon temperature and light intensity.

Flower opening.—First flower open is the terminal flower at the mainaxis and is followed by the opening of the terminal flowers of the sidebranches of the inflorescence. About 1.5 weeks after the first flowerhas opened, 50% of the remaining flowers are open.

Post-production longevity.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe maintain goodleaf and flower substance for at least five weeks under interiorenvironmental conditions.

Flower diameter.—About 1.8 cm.

Quantity.—Very freely flowering, at least 250 flowers per plant.

Flower buds.—Shape: Narrowly oblong. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About3 mm. Color: 47A.

Petals.—Quantity: Four fused at base. Length: About 9 mm. Shape: Roundobovate. Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous, smooth andsatiny. Color: Upper surface: Initially close to 43A; with development,becoming 43B. Lower surface: Towards base, 35C; towards apex, 46C.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Stamen number: Eight. Anther shape:Slightly oblong. Filament color: Yellow green. Pollen color: Yellow.Pistils: Pistil number: Four. Style color: Whitish green. Stigma shape:Round. Ovaries: Superior and four-celled. Ovary size: About 5 mm by 1mm. Ovary color: Light green.

Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Resistance to known Kalanchoe diseases has not beenobserved to date under commercial practice.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named‘Red Jaqueline’, as illustrated and described.